When it comes to cloud migration, many people are most concerned about security. While the cloud has apparent advantages over on-premises servers in terms of storage and collaboration, businesses are typically hesitant to make the switch because they are concerned that their data may be compromised. This concern has grown in prominence in the wake of GDPR, which threatens firms with severe penalties if they fail to appropriately protect user data. Often, businesses fear that moving to the cloud will mean sacrificing security in exchange for greater flexibility, putting critical data at risk in order to take advantage of new technology. Many times, cloud migration appears to be a trade-off, one that is simply not worth it in the age of rising compliance rules.
Office 365 and the Cloud: Security Concerns
Simply put, there are legitimate security worries about the cloud. After all, data is your company’s lifeblood. IT managers are also responsible for the security of corporate data, so it’s logical that they’d be wary about entrusting it to someone else.
Other security issues clients frequently express and the responses we provide are as follows:
I don’t want Microsoft to have access to my information! If data is kept on the Microsoft Cloud, there is no standing access to it. Auditing, approval processes, and role-based access are all used by Microsoft to keep access under control.
How can I be sure that my data will not be hacked?
There is no such thing as a hack-proof system. Companies should use the Microsoft Trust Center and set the Office 365 Security Analytics Service to the Microsoft-recommended settings, according to Microsoft.
How can I be sure that other companies won’t have access to my information?
Someone must first authenticate with your Active Directory using Azure Active Directory Connect, Active Directory Federation Services, or directly with Office 365 Azure AD to access your data in Office 365. Another issue is ensuring that unauthorized individuals do not have access to firm data. Azure Rights Management is a cloud-based solution that encrypts files and emails and enforces identity and authorization requirements across phones, tablets, and PCs.
Will Microsoft own my data if I give it to them?
Microsoft does not possess or utilize your personal information in any way. In fact, Microsoft will only keep your data for a maximum of 90 days after you cancel your Office 365 subscription. This time frame allows an organization to retrieve its data. Check out this Microsoft Trust Center article for additional information on data retention.
What if I need to return my data to my servers? Isn’t there a chance Microsoft still has a copy? Microsoft, like the last company, will delete your data after 90 days.
Is it possible that dissatisfied Microsoft workers may gain access to and distribute my information?
Microsoft has taken significant steps to minimize customer data access (including from Microsoft personnel and subcontractors). Microsoft offers a report on its subcontractors for further information on who has access to data (including its Online Services Terms and Microsoft Commercial Support teams).
I don’t want to send my information over the Internet! Microsoft encrypts client data at rest and in transit using service-side technologies. Office 365 uses volume- and file-level encryption at rest. For communications between datacenters and clients and servers in transit, Office 365 employs a variety of encryption technologies, including transport layer security and Internet protocol security. There is also Azure ExpressRoute, which allows you to build a direct network connection to Microsoft Servers and other cloud services for enterprises who want to limit their data and communications from the public Internet.
My industry compliance requirements would be violated if I moved my data to Office 365! Because compliance varies by organization and industry, I won’t presume that Office 365 will match the security needs of every company. Before signing up for any service, I always advise contacting your legal team. The Security and Compliance Center has more information on topics including archiving, data loss prevention, device management, and more.
Any IT expert would be concerned about a loss of control in the cloud. However, public clouds are frequently more secure than on-premises technology. You’ve also covered a lot more ground with Office 365 than just the Exchange platform.
Security in Office 365 Extends Beyond Exchange
One of the most common misconceptions about Office 365 is that it is solely for Exchange. Office 365, on the other hand, is much more than a hosted Exchange environment. Office 365 is a customizable information security platform that lets subscribers secure their data, improve workflow, and save money on technical resources.
At least in terms of end users, Office 365 is built around Microsoft Office. With Office 365, however, Office has been revolutionized. Using Office 365 Online Apps, the platform allows mobile workers to collaborate seamlessly. Users can collaborate on papers and presentations in real time in a secure environment, from any location with an Internet connection.
For IT managers with a mobile workforce, data security is a big concern. Microsoft Azure offers optional data security features that let you track and secure documents from anywhere on the planet.
Why Is Microsoft the Cloud Industry Standard?
Microsoft has included a financially backed SLA with a 99.9% uptime guarantee with every Office 365 subscription, as security is a top priority for the corporation. Most businesses can’t even come close to achieving 97 percent uptime, no matter how skilled their own IT staff is.
Aside from the excellent SLA, Microsoft’s track record with Office 365 is unrivalled in the cloud community. While some firms, such as Amazon Web Services, have excellent IT infrastructure services, they fall short when it comes to end user productivity. Before you choose a cloud provider, make sure you do your homework.
Fortunately, this is not the case. When it comes to cloud solutions, several platforms provide a slew of features and functionalities that assure data security for both users and organizations. Microsoft’s Office 365 platform, which has brought out a slew of new features to assist customers protect themselves against cybersecurity attacks, is perhaps the most advanced of these.
Our goal at Cloud FastPath is to make sure that businesses get the most out of the cloud–that they find the best solution for their specific and changing requirements. As a result, we’re pleased to present the Top 5 Best Security Tools in Office 365!
For business file restoration and ransomware protection, use OneDrive.
Ransomware is one of the most insidious dangers to a company’s cyber-security, owing to how well certain people have learned to conceal it and how rapidly it may take effect.
However, Office 365 recognizes this and gives customers with unrivalled file restoration features that allow them to rapidly revert to prior, non-corrupted versions of files within moments of being exposed to a danger. Documents that have been corrupted are immediately deleted, and the previous, safe version is restored. This means that consumers have the ability to immediately neutralize the dangers of ransom ware, giving enterprises another tool in their cyber-security inventory while also depriving cyber-threats of a vital weapon.
After the catastrophic yet “unsophisticated” WannaCry virus –which grabbed critical data and kept it captive–the NHS in the United Kingdom had to spend £150 million to tighten up their security, no institution can scoff at the threat of ransomware. According to investigations into the WannaCry attack in the United Kingdom, basic IT security procedures may have averted the attack. Office 365 takes these risks seriously and equips you with the basic but effective tools you’ll need to defend against them.
Identifying Suspicious Connections
One of the simplest methods for cyber-criminals to prey on an organization is through suspicious and infected connections. They provide a convenient entry point for hazards such as malware to prey on naïve consumers. Admins in Office 365, on the other hand, can vet and examine links to see if they’re harmful or fake. As a result, adversaries have a much harder time infiltrating any organization’s ecosystem with Office 365. Office 365 provides enterprises with a quick and easy-to-use tool to out-think cyber-criminals and beat them at their own game by reporting problematic or suspicious connections from the start.
Control over email has been improved.
Office 365 understands the risks of forwarding an email to the incorrect person–sensitive information being passed along without the sender’s knowledge. As a result, emails sent through Outlook can now be limited to prohibit forwarding by the sender. Using email to share sensitive files might be nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be! Microsoft is assuring that consumers have complete control over who receives their files by offering tools that allow each user to manage forwards, shares, and downloads.
So, how do you do it? Attachments are illegible by people who are not supposed to see them, thanks to increased encryption. Although an incorrectly misdirected attachment may be downloaded, the resulting document cannot be accessed by the user who is attempting to view information they are not permitted to see.
Apple was recently forced to threaten legal action against a number of employees who were leaking sensitive information. While it may be frustrating to ponder the possibility that members of your business may disclose important papers and information inappropriately, it is a basic and frightening reality.
However, with Office 365, this does not have to be a major issue for your company.
Learn How SharePoint Online Deployment Can Help You Keep Your Data Safe!
Encryption of Emails Has Been Improved
But the encryption possibilities don’t end there!
Users might be surprised to hear that just a small percentage of email services offer effective encryption. Just ask the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which recently experienced an email mistake that resulted in the capture of over 6,000 people’s names, social security numbers, and sensitive medical information.
Inadequate encryption may put businesses and those who rely on them in danger, and it’s an alarmingly typical occurrence.
Microsoft is looking to buck the trend. As a result, Outlook.com has added a number of additional encryption features to ensure that hackers are unable to break into user emails and steal valuable and sensitive data and files. Outlook encryption means that interception and leakage by and to hackers is significantly less of an issue than with other providers, regardless of the amount of email security your recipient has. Users no longer have to worry about whether their recipients are protected to the same extent as themselves; Microsoft protects your emails and the files included within them at all times!
